Solvating system and sealant for medical use in the middle or inner ear

ABSTRACT

Chronic Otitis Media with Effusion (COME), Recurrent Acute Otitis Media (RAOM), cholesteatoma, and other bacterial ear conditions may be treated by applying a solvating system containing greater than 0.2 wt. % surfactant to a bacterial biofilm in the middle or inner ear, disrupting the biofilm, and applying a protective layer of a polymeric film-forming medical sealant.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/431,495 filed May 10, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the treatment of chronic otitis media with effusion (COME), Recurrent Acute Otitis Media (RAOM), cholesteatoma, and other bacterial ear conditions.

BACKGROUND

COME and RAOM are inflammatory diseases of the middle ear. Biofilm formation may be a factor in the pathogenesis of COME, see Post, J.C., “Direct evidence of bacterial biofilms in otitis media”, Laryngoscope 111(12):2083-94 (2001), Ehrlich et al., “Mucosal Biofilm Formation on Middle-Ear Mucosa in the Chinchilla Model of Otitis Media”, JAMA 287(13): 1710-15 (2002) and Fergie, N et al., “Is otitis media with effusion a biofilm infection?”, Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 29(1):38-46 (2004). Biofilms form when bacteria interact with a surface to form polymeric films (sometimes referred to as exopolysaccharide or extracellular polysaccharide polymers) that coat the surface and provide a living colony for further bacterial proliferation. Bacteria lodged in biofilms are much more difficult to remove or kill than bacteria in a plaktonic (suspended) state, and are extremely resistant to many antibiotics and biocides. Both the extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) matrix and the toxins produced by a number of different bacteria have been shown to cause inflammation by the host. It appears that the chronic inflammation associated with COME and RAOM is a host response to the bacterial biofilm.

COME and RAOM are usually initially treated using oral antibiotics and then, if need be, are more aggressively treated by placement of a tympanostomy tube. Occasionally in cases involving severe infection or high mucous content in the middle ear, the middle ear may be irrigated (e.g., with saline solution). While tympanostomy tubes work on most patients, about 20% of patients who undergo primary tympanostomy tube placement require an additional surgery (an adenoidectomy, a second set of tympanostomy tubes, and usually both an adenoidectomy and tympanostomy tube placement) to treat persistent COME or persistent RAOM.

Cholesteatoma is another ear disease condition of concern. Although generally thought to be primarily a cyst comprised of dermal cells, bacteria biofilms have also been implicated in this disease, see Chole et al., “Evidence for Biofilm Formation in Cholesteatomas”, Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 128, pp. 1129-33 (October 2002). In cholesteatoma, bacterial biofilms appear to form, incite inflammation, and cause generation of a benign tumor composed mainly of bacteria at its core and dermal cells. The tumor can erode both the ossicular chain (hearing bones) and the mastoid bone, detrimentally affecting hearing. Surgical exposure and excision is the most common treatment for cholesteatoma removal. Up to 25% of these procedures fail due to recurrence of the cholesteatoma and thus require additional surgery or other treatment.

The etiology and chronicity of COME, RAOM and cholesteatoma appear to be related to the presence of bacterial biofilms as well as their recalcitrance post-surgery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Patients, and their parents in the case of children, dislike infection recurrence and the possible need to undergo repeat or additional surgery. Although antibiotics may initially be administered at elevated dosages to address these problems, antibiotics have been shown to be ineffective against chronic infections that involve a bacterial biofilm and administering them can also promote drug resistance in the targeted and other bacterial species. It would be highly desirable to employ alternative treatments that permit a reduction or elimination in the amount of required antibiotics yet discourage recurrence of the treated condition. When the treated condition involves a bacterial biofilm on a tissue surface, it would be desirable to remove or disrupt the biofilm more effectively than is the case when saline irrigation is employed, so that remaining bacteria may more effectively be attacked by antibiotics or by the body's own natural defenses. It would also be desirable to at least temporarily seal or otherwise protect the thus-treated surface in order to repel bacterial adherence and biofilm reformation. It would also be desirable to do so while meeting biocompatibility requirements for contact with human tissue, and while using small dosages of administered materials and short periods of application. Our copending application Ser. No. (attorney docket no. 151-P-28476US01), filed even date herewith, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a solvating system comprising a metal ion sequestering agent and surfactant and its use to disrupt bacterial biofilms within the middle or inner ear.

The present invention provides in one aspect a method for treating chronic otitis media and other bacterial ear conditions, which method comprises:

-   -   a) applying a solvating system comprising greater than 0.2 wt. %         surfactant to a treatment site comprising a bacterial biofilm         attached or adhered to at least a portion of the middle or inner         ear,     -   b) detaching, removing or otherwise disrupting at least a part         of the biofilm, and     -   c) applying to the treatment site a protective layer of a         polymeric film-forming medical sealant.

The disclosed method may be used for treatment or post-operative care of the middle or inner ear, and may be used to treat maladies or chronic conditions including chronic otitis media with effusion, recurrent acute otitis media, cholesteatoma and other bacterial ear conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a middle ear undergoing treatment via the disclosed method.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1.

Like reference symbols in the various figures of the drawing indicate like elements. The elements in the drawing are not to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description describes certain embodiments and is not to be taken in a limiting sense. All weights, amounts and ratios herein are by weight, unless otherwise specifically noted. The terms shown below have the following meanings:

The term “antimicrobial agent” refers to a substance having the ability to cause greater than a 90% numeric reduction (viz., greater than a 1-log order reduction) in a population of one or more of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis or any other bacteria implicated in the etiology of COME, RAOM or cholesteatoma using the bacterial plate count procedure described below in the Examples.

The terms “attached” and “adhered” when used in reference to a bacterial biofilm and a surface mean that the biofilm is established on and at least partially coats or covers the surface, and has some resistance to removal from the surface. As the nature of this relationship is complex and poorly understood, no particular mechanism of attachment or adherence is intended by such usage.

The term “adhesion” refers to the sticking together of a material to tissues or tissue to tissue with which it is in intimate contact for extended periods or tissue that connects opposing tissues or prosthetic materials across a normally open space.

The term “bacterial biofilm” means a community of bacteria attached to a surface, with the organisms in the community being contained within an EPS matrix produced by the bacteria.

The term “biocompatible” when used in reference to a substance means that the substance presents no significant deleterious or untoward effects upon the body.

The term “biodegradable” when used in reference to a substance means that the substance will degrade or erode in vivo to form smaller chemical species. Such degradation process may be enzymatic, chemical or physical.

The term “bioresorbable” when used in reference to a substance means that the substance is capable of being absorbed by the body.

The terms “detaching”, “removing” and “disrupting” when used in reference to a bacterial biofilm attached or adhered to a surface mean that at least a significant amount of the biofilm initially present on the surface no longer is attached or adhered to the surface. No particular mechanism of detachment, removal or disruption is intended by such usage.

The term “hemostat” means a device or material which stops blood flow.

The term “polymeric sealant” means that the sealant is either formed from a synthetic crosslinked or uncrosslinked polymer or is a natural material such as a protein which has been crosslinked (e.g., synthetically crosslinked).

The term “residence time” when used in reference to a polymeric sealant at a treatment site means the time period during which the sealant remains in place in vivo under gross observation.

The term “sequestering agent” means a chemical that will combine with another material, especially a metal ion, to discourage or prevent the material from coming out of solution. The term “metal ion sequestering agent” means a sequestering agent that will combine with one or more metal ions such as alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, iron and the like to discourage or prevent the metal ion from coming out of solution. In order of increasing atomic number the alkali metals are lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium, and the alkaline earth metals are beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium.

The term “solvating” means to form a solution or dispersion containing a solvent or other carrier within which a solute is dissolved or suspended.

Referring to FIG. 1, the disclosed method may be performed within ear 10 by inserting cannula 12 through ear canal 14 and ear tube 16 (which may for example have been installed via myringotomy) or other available opening in tympanic membrane 18 and thence into middle ear 20. Cannula 12 may also be inserted in other ways without myringotomy, such as through a needle or other guidance device directed through the ear, Eustachian tubes or nose, and operated blindly or by using guided techniques such as microendoscopy, virtual image guided endoscopy, or image guided surgery using a flexible, tip tracked device. As shown in FIG. 1, the distal end 22 of cannula 12 is positioned above isthmus 24 of Eustachian tube 26. Cannula 12 may be positioned and if need be modified in shape or size so as to treat other portions of middle ear 20 (which for purposes of this discussion will be deemed to include at least the tympanic membrane, the lining of the middle ear, interior structures such as the ossicular chain and bordering structures such as the mastoid) or to treat portions of the inner ear (which for purposes of this discussion will be deemed to include at least semicircular canals 28 and cochlea 30). For example, if treatment in the inner ear is desired, a further access opening (e.g., in a membrane near the round window or oval window) may be made.

The solvating system may be directed through cannula 12 and applied to the desired treatment site to detach, remove or otherwise disrupt at least a part of a bacterial biofilm attached or adhered to at least a portion of the middle or inner ear. The solvating system desirably is applied in at least an amount and thickness sufficient to cover the desired portion of the biofilm. The treatment may involve chemical dilution or mechanical disruption. For example, the solvating system may with appropriate care be applied as a pressurized spray to dislodge the bacterial biofilm, bacteria and other foreign body buildup at the treatment site. While not wishing to be bound by theory, the solvating system may dissolve the biofilm and bring it into solution or suspension so that the thus-disrupted biofilm can be easily flushed or otherwise removed from the treatment site using aspiration, lavage or other removal techniques performed via the myringotomy or through the Eustachian tube or nose. Any remaining bacteria at the treatment site may then more readily be attacked by an antimicrobial agent or by the body's natural defenses. Bacterial attack may for example be assisted by including an antimicrobial agent in the solvating system or in the polymeric film-forming medical sealant, or by separately applying an antimicrobial agent intra operatively or post operatively (e.g., topically, orally or systemically). It may be desirable to inject sufficient solvating system into the treatment area to displace any pus or other material that may be present, allowing excess material to overflow from the treatment area until the color of the excess material no longer changes. The solvating system may be left in place until it can drain away or is otherwise eliminated or resorbed, or the solvating system may be allowed to stand for a suitable time (e.g., a few minutes, a few hours or longer) and then may be rinsed away using saline or another suitable liquid. The solvating system preferably is applied directly into the middle or inner ear region rather than merely being applied to the ear canal and allowed to transport across the tympanic membrane, as such direct application may promote faster biofilm breakup. Application of the solvating system and removal of dislodged or disrupted biofilm and bacteria may also be repeated as desired to ensure thorough removal of the offending organisms.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1. The solvating system is shown being applied to a bacterial biofilm proximate the Eustachian tube isthmus by dispensing the solvating system through orifices 34 located in sidewall 36 onto a bacterial biofilm such as biofilm 38 disposed on upper portion 40 of Eustachian tube 26. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the solvating system may be applied to a desired treatment site using methods or devices other than cannula 12. Exemplary such methods include trephination and exemplary such devices include syringes (e.g., glass syringes and bulb syringes) and other devices suitable for providing access to the middle or inner ear via the tympanic membrane, Eustachian tubes or nose.

To discourage bacterial recolonization and biofilm reformation, the polymeric film-forming medical sealant is also applied to the treatment site. This may for example be accomplished using cannula 12 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 to dispense the film-forming medical sealant onto the treatment site. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the sealant may be applied to the treatment site using methods or devices other than cannula 12. The applied sealant may fill the middle or inner ear when applied but desirably does not do so and instead preferably is applied as a film or other conformal coating. The sealant desirably adheres to natural tissues at the treatment site and resists detachment or other disruption until natural degradation or resorption of the sealant takes place (e.g., after a residence time of one or more days or weeks). By applying only a coating rather than filling the treatment site, the ossicular chain may remain free to move with movement of the tympanic membrane due to sound pressure waves and the function of the middle and inner ear may be preserved during healing. Meanwhile recolonization or reinfection may be significantly reduced or prevented, and improved healing and reciliation may take place. If desired, the sealant may be applied to part or all of the ossicular chain or to part or all of the tympanic membrane in order to provide a degree of stabilization during healing. The sealant may provide various therapeutic advantages including but not limited to bacterial adhesion repellence, anti-infective properties, local immune modulation, tissue protection, reduction or elimination of pain or bleeding, reduction in inflammation, optimization of environment for ciliary regrowth, reduction in adhesions to critical anatomy, or the like. These advantages may arise due to a variety of mechanisms including a) inhibiting bacterial colonization, b) inhibiting the adherence of bacteria to tissue, c) reducing tissue morbidity or abscess formation, d) reducing or preventing disease recurrence (for example, specifically reducing the chronic inflammation related to bacterial toxin and EPS), e) coating and protecting tissue during healing, such as by maintenance of a moist wound which promotes platelet aggregation, or by closure of a dry wound without excessive scabrous formation, f) hemostasis, g) optimizing the environment for reciliation of the mucosa, h) speeding the growth or regrowth of cilia, i) preventing adhesion of a prosthesis or tympanomucosal grafts to native tissue, and j) delivering therapeutic agent(s) to the treatment site. Desirably the sealant will attach to a portion of the mucosa, cover other portions of the mucosa while leaving the cilia in such unattached portions free to undergo natural rhythmic cilia motion (viz., cilia beating), deliver antimicrobial agents or additional therapeutic agents as needed, and prevent bacteria from adhering to the treatment site.

A variety of solvating systems may be used in the disclosed method. As noted above, the solvating system comprises greater than 0.2 wt. % surfactant. The surfactant desirably is water-soluble and nontoxic. Exemplary surfactants include anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and zwitterionic surfactants. Exemplary anionic surfactants include but are not limited to C₆-C₂₄ alkylbenzene sulfonates; C₆-C₂₄ olefin sulfonates; C₆-C₂₄ paraffin sulfonates; cumene sulfonate; xylene sulfonate; C₆-C₂₄ alkyl naphthalene sulfonates; C₆-C₂₄ alkyl or dialkyl diphenyl ether sulfonates or disulfonates, C₄-C₂₄ mono or dialkyl sulfosuccinates; sulfonated or sulfated fatty acids; C₆-C₂₄ alcohol sulfates (for example C₆-C₁₂ alcohol sulfates); C₆-C₂₄ alcohol ether sulfates having 1 to about 20 ethylene oxide groups; C₄-C₂₄ alkyl, aryl or alkaryl phosphate esters or their alkoxylated analogues having 1 to about 40 ethylene, propylene or butylene oxide units; and mixtures thereof. For example, the anionic surfactant may be sodium chenodeoxycholate, N-lauroylsarcosine sodium salt, lithium dodecyl sulfate, 1-octanesulfonic acid sodium salt, sodium cholate hydrate, sodium deoxycholate, sodium dodecyl sulfate (also known as sodium lauryl sulfate) or sodium glycodeoxycholate.

Exemplary cationic surfactants include but are not limited to quaternary amine compounds having the formula:

where R, R′, R″ and R′″ are each a C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group that can optionally contain one or more P, O, S or N heteroatoms, and X is F, Cl, Br, I or an alkyl sulfate. For example, the cationic surfactant may be hexadecylpyridinium chloride monohydrate or hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide.

Exemplary nonionic surfactants include but are not limited to C₆-C₂₄ alcohol ethoxylates (for example C₆-C₁₄ alcohol ethoxylates) having 1 to about 20 ethylene oxide groups (for example about 9 to about 20 ethylene oxide groups); C₆-C₂₄ alkylphenol ethoxylates (for example C₈-C₁₀ alkylphenol ethoxylates) having 1 to about 100 ethylene oxide groups (for example about 12 to about 20 ethylene oxide groups); C₆-C₂₄ alkylpolyglycosides (for example C₆-C₂₀ alkylpolyglycosides) having 1 to about 20 glycoside groups (for example about 9 to about 20 glycoside groups); C₆-C₂₄ fatty acid ester ethoxylates, propoxylates or glycerides; C4-C₂₄ mono or di alkanolamides; and mixtures thereof. For example, the nonionic surfactant may be polyoxyethyleneglycol dodecyl ether, N-decanoyl-N-methylglucamine, digitonin, n-dodecyl B-D-maltoside, octyl B-D-glucopyranoside, octylphenol ethoxylate, polyoxyethylene (8) isooctyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate or polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate.

Exemplary zwitterionic surfactants include but are not limited to aminoalkylsulfonate compounds having the formula:

where R, R′, R″ and R′″ are each a C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group that can optionally contain one or more P, O, S or N heteroatoms; amine oxide compounds having the formula:

where R, R′ and R″ are each a C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group that can optionally contain one or more P, O, S or N heteroatoms; and betaine compounds having the formula:

where R, R′ and R″ are each a C₁-C₂₄ alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group that can optionally contain one or more P, O, S or N heteroatoms, and n is about 1 to about 10. For example, the zwitterionic surfactant may be 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-2-hydroxy-1-propane sulfonate, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate (sometimes referred to as CHAPS), 3-(decyldimethylammonio) propanesulfonate inner salt (sometimes referred to as caprylyl sulfobetaine), or N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate.

Preferred surfactants include alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, aryl sulfonates and zwitterionic surfactants. The desired surfactants may be obtained as pure compounds or in some instances may be obtained by using products such as liquid Castile soap. The surfactant may for example be present at a concentration of at least about 0.002 M, at least about 0.005 M or at least about 0.01 M, e.g., about 0.002 to about 1 M, about 0.005 to about 0.7 M or about 0.01 to about 0.5 M. Expressed on a weight basis, the surfactant is greater than 0.2 wt. % of the solvating system and may for example be about 0.3% to about 30%, about 0.5% to about 25% or about 1% to about 20% of the solvating system. Increased surfactant amounts may promote faster biofilm breakup.

The solvating system may optionally contain a metal ion sequestering agent. The sequestering agent desirably is a mild acid whose acidity is sufficient to sequester one or more metal ions in the exopolysaccharide or extracellular polysaccharide matrix, but which is not so acidic so as to harm the treated middle or inner ear tissue. Metal ions of particular interest (due to their likely involvement in the targeted bacterial biofilms) include sodium, calcium and iron. The metal ion sequestering agent desirably is water-soluble, nontoxic and not prone to aggravate long-term hearing loss. Representative acids include but are not limited to carboxylic acids, diacids, or triacids such as formic acid, acetic acid, chloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, oxalic acid, oxamic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, aspartic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, iminodiacetic acid, glutaric acid, 2-ketoglutaric acid, glutamic acid, adipic acid, citric acid, glucuronic acid, mucic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, salicylic acid, ketopimelic acid, benzoic acid, mandelic acid, chloromandelic acid, phenylacetic acid, phthalic acid and boric acid; mineral acids such as hydrochloric acid, orthophosphoric acid and phosphonic acid; and mixtures thereof. Citric acid is a preferred acid. The metal ion sequestering agent may for example be present at a concentration of at least about 0.01 M, at least about 0.05 M or at least about 0.1 M, e.g., about 0.01 to about 0.5 M, about 0.05 to about 0.4 M or about 0.1 to about 0.3 M. Increased metal ion sequestering agent amounts may promote faster biofilm breakup.

The solvating system may optionally include a variety of other ingredients, including water and other solvents (e.g., alcohols), buffering agents, antimicrobial agents and a variety of adjuvants. Preferably the solvating system contains water and one or more buffering agents. The buffering agent preferably maintains the solvating system at an appropriate pH for contacting human tissue, and desirably at a pH greater than 5. For example, the solvating system may be buffered to have a near-neutral pH, e.g., a pH greater than 5 and less than 8.5. Buffering agents may for example be up to about 25% of the solvating system. Exemplary buffering agents include but are not limited to potassium chloride, glycine, potassium hydrogen phthalate, sodium acetate, potassium hydrogen phthalate, barbitone sodium and sodium citrate. When the metal ion sequestering agent is a mild acid, the buffering agent desirably is a salt of that acid.

Solvating systems containing one or more antimicrobial agents are also preferred. The EPS matrix allows the biofilm to stick to an underlying surface and also protects the embedded organisms; thus, bacteria in biofilms are approximately 100 to 1000 times more resistant to the effects of antibiotics than planktonic bacteria. After the biofilm has been broken down into unbound polymers or fragments and solvated or otherwise disrupted by the solvating system, an antimicrobial agent can much more effectively attack the remaining bacteria. Exemplary antimicrobial agents include active oxygen compounds such as hydrogen peroxide, isolated or equilibrium derived or isolated peracids such as chloroperbenzoic acids, peracetic acid, perheptanoic acid, peroctanoic acid, perdecanoic acid, performic acid, percitric acid, perglycolic acid, perlactic acid, perbenzoic acid, and monoester peracids derived from diacids or diesters such as adipic, succinic, glutaric, or malonic acid; amphenicols; ampicillins; ansamycins; beta-lactams such as carbacephems, carbapenems, cephalosporins, cephamycins, monobactams, oxacephems, penicillins and any of their derivatives; carboxylic esters such as p-hydroxy alkyl benzoates and alkyl cinnamates; chitosan salts; cubic-phase lipids; gallium-containing antimicrobial agents such as gallium acetylacetonate, gallium bromide, gallium chloride, gallium fluoride, gallium iodide, gallium maltolate, gallium nitrate, gallium nitride, gallium percolate, gallium phosphide and gallium sulfate; iodo-compounds and other active halogen compounds such as iodine, interhalides, polyhalides, metal hypochlorites, hypochlorous acid, metal hypobromites, hypobromous acid, chloro- and bromo-hydantoins, chlorine dioxide and sodium chlorite; lincosamides; macrolides; nitrofurans; organic peroxides including benzoyl peroxide and alkyl benzoyl peroxides; ozone; phenolic derivatives including o-phenyl phenol, o-benzyl-p-chlorophenol, tert-amyl phenol and C₁-C₆ alkyl hydroxy benzoates; quaternary ammonium compounds such as alkyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride and dialkyldimethyl ammonium chloride; quinolines; singlet oxygen generators; sulfonamides; sulfones; sulfonic acids such as dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid; tetracyclines; vancomycin; derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. Many of these recited agents represent classes containing useful specific materials whose individual utility will be recognized by persons having ordinary skill in the art. For example, exemplary penicillins include but are not limited to amdinocillin, amdinocillin pivoxil, amoxicillin ampicillin, apalcillin, aspoxicillin, axidocillin, azlocillin, acampicillin, bacampicillin, benzylpenicillinic acid, benzylpenicillin sodium, carbenicillin, carindacillin, clometocillin, cloxacillin, cyclacillin, dicloxacillin, epicillin, fenbenicillin, floxacillin, hetacillin, lenampicillin, metampicillin, methicillin sodium, mezlocillin, nafcillin sodium, oxacillin, penamecillin, penethamate hydriodide, penicillin G benethamine, penicillin G benzathine, penicillin G benzhydrylamine, penicillin G calcium, penicillin G hydrabamine, penicillin G potassium, penicillin G. procaine, penicillin N, penicillin O, penicillin V, penicillin V banzathine, penicillin V hydrabamine, penimepicycline, phenethicillin potassium, piperacillin, pivampicillin propicillin, quinacillin, sulbenicillin, sultamicillin, talampicillin, temocillin, ticarcillin and mixtures thereof or with other materials (e.g., penicillins combined with clavulanic aid such as the combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid available as AUGMENTIN™ from GlaxoSmithKline).

An antimicrobial agent such as those described above may optionally be applied in a separate treatment step (if need be in a suitable carrier) after application of the solvating system and before application of the polymeric film-forming medical sealant. An antimicrobial agent may also be applied as a part of the sealant. Whether applied as a part of the solvating system, in a separate step, or as a part of the sealant, the antimicrobial agent preferably provides greater than a 99% numeric reduction (viz., at least a 2-log order reduction), greater than a 99.9% numeric reduction (viz., at least a 3-log order reduction), greater than a 99.99% numeric reduction (viz., at least a 4-log order reduction) or greater than a 99.999% numeric reduction (viz., at least a 5-log order reduction) in a population of one or more of S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, S. pneumonia, H. influenzae or M. catarrhalis bacteria using the bacterial plate count procedure described below in the Examples.

The solvating system may contain additional therapeutic agents. Exemplary therapeutic agents include any material suitable for otologic use including analgesics, anti-cholinergics, anti-fungal agents, antihistamines, steroidal or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, anti-parasitic agents, antiviral agents, biostatic compositions, chemotherapeutic/antineoplastic agents, cytokines, decongestants, immunosuppressors, mucolytics, nucleic acids, peptides, proteins, steroids, vasoconstrictor's, vitamins, mixtures thereof, and other therapeutic materials that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Several such additional therapeutic agents are discussed in more detail below in connection with the polymeric film-forming medical sealant. Other adjuvants that may be included in the solvating system include dyes, pigments or other colorants (e.g., FD & C Red No. 3, FD & C Red No. 20, FD & C Yellow No. 6, FD & C Blue No. 2, D & C Green No. 5, D & C Orange No. 4, D & C Red No. 8, caramel, titanium dioxide, fruit or vegetable colorants such as beet powder or beta-carotene, turmeric, paprika and other materials that will be familiar to those skilled in the art); indicators; flavoring or sweetening agents including but not limited to anise oil, cherry, cinnamon oil, citrus oil (e.g., lemon, lime or orange oil), cocoa, eucalyptus, herbal aromatics (e.g., clove oil, sage oil or cassia oil), lactose, maltose, menthol, peppermint oil, saccharine, sodium cyclamate, spearmint oil, sorbitol, sucrose, vanillin, wintergreen oil, xylitol and mixtures thereof; antioxidants; antifoam agents; and rheology modifiers including thickeners and thixotropes.

The solvating system desirably has a sufficiently low viscosity to enable easy delivery to the treatment site using for example power spray or other spray application, lavage, misting, mopping, wicking or dripping. The solvating system desirably also may be easily removed from the treatment site by subsequent flushing, rinsing, draining or absorption. The solvating system need not be applied in liquid form and may for example be applied as a powder, gel, foam, sponge, film strip or other suitable form. The solvating system may be applied to treatment sites in the middle or inner ear or in associated structures such as the Eustachian tubes. The solvating system is biocompatible with the delicate tissues and structures of the middle or inner ear, and desirably does not contain ingredients which might potentially harm such tissues or structures or unduly compromise long-term hearing.

A variety of polymeric film-forming medical sealants may be used in the disclosed method. The sealant preferably is a biodegradable or bioresorbable material having a residence time in vivo of from one day to a few (e.g., 2, 3 or 4) days, weeks or months. The sealant may be uncrosslinked, crosslinked before being applied to the treatment site, or crosslinked after application. In one embodiment, the sealant may be a viscoelastic material. In another embodiment, the sealant may harden after application. The sealant may be a synthetic polymer (for example, polyethylene glycol or PEG), natural polymer (for example, a polysaccharide, lipid or polypeptide), or a synthetically-modified natural polymer (for example, a polypeptide reacted with PEG). Other exemplary synthetic polymers include polyacetals, polyacrylic acid, polyalkylene oxalates, polyalkylene succinates, polyamides, polyamino acids, polyaspartic acid, polyanhydrides, polycaprolactones, polycarbonates, polycyanoacrylates, polydiaxonones, polyesteramides, polyetheresters, polyethylene oxide (PEO), poly(glycolic acids) and other poly(glycolides), polyhydroxybutyrates, polyhydroxyvalerates, polyketals, poly(lactic acid) and other polylactides including poly(lactide-co-glycolides), poly(malic acids), polyorthoesters, polyphosphazines, polyphosphoesters, polypropylene oxide (PPO), degradable polyurethanes, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and copolymers, terpolymers, blends, and mixtures thereof.

Exemplary polysaccharides include cellulose and its derivatives such as oxidized cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), carboxymethyl amylose (CMA), carboxyethyl cellulose and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC); chitin; chitosan and its derivatives such as carboxymethyl chitosan and trimethylchitosan; dextran and its derivatives such as carboxymethyl dextran; glycogen; glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronan (e.g., hyaluronic acid and its derivatives including esters and polymers), heparin, heparin sulfate, dermatin sulfate, and chondroitin-6-sulfate; gums such as alginate, gellan gum and xanthan gum; pectin; and starch and its derivatives.

Exemplary lipids include glyceryl based lipid compounds such as glyceryl monooleate, and liquid crystal lipids which can be delivered in fluid form and which when in contact with moisture will convert to a cubic phase to provide a waxy cubic or crystalline material.

Exemplary polypeptides include albumin, collagen, gelatin, silk and their derivatives. For example, crosslinked hydrogels may be formed from many polypeptides by reacting them with a suitable crosslinking agent such as an aldehyde (e.g., glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde), carbodiimide, chitin, CMC or a glycol such as a PEG.

The polymeric film-forming medical sealant may include antimicrobial agents, additional therapeutic agents and other adjuvants like those mentioned above in connection with the solvating system. Sealants containing therapeutic agents that offer both anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties (e.g., tetracyclines) are a preferred embodiment. Sealants containing additional therapeutic agents such as anti-fungal agents, antihistamines, steroidal or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, anti-parasitic agents, antiviral agents, chemotherapeutic/antineoplastic agents, decongestants or mucolytics are another preferred embodiment. Sealants containing antimicrobial agents and additional therapeutic agents are yet another preferred embodiment. Exemplary anti-fungal agents include but are not limited to allylamines, imidazoles, polyenes, thiocarbamates, triazoles, derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. Exemplary antihistamines include but are not limited to azelastine, diphenhydramine, loratidine, derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. Exemplary steroidal anti-inflammatory agents include but are not limited to 21-acetoxypregnenolone, alclometasone, algestone, amcinonide, beclomethasone, betamethasone, budesonide, chloroprednisone, clobetasol, clobetansone, clocortolone, cloprednol, corticosterone, cortisone, cortivazol, deflazacort, desonide, desoximetasone, dexamethasone, diflorasone, diflucortolone, difluprednate, enoxolone, fluazacort, flucloronide, flumethasone flunisolide, fluocinolone acetonide, fluocinonide, fluocortin butyl, fluocortolone, fluorometholone, fluperolone acetate, fluprednidene acetate, fluprednisolone, flurandrenolide, fluticasone propionate, formocortal, halcinonide, halobetasol propionate, halometasone, halopredone acetate, hydrocortamate, hydrocortisone, loteprednol etabonate, mazipredone, medrysone, meprednisone, methylprednisolone, mometasone furoate, paramethosone, prednicarbate, prednisolone, prednisolone 25-diethylamino-acetate, prednisolone sodium phosphate, prednisone, prednival, prednylidene, rimexolone, tixocortol, triamcinolone, triamcinolone acetonide, triamcinolone benetonide, triamcinolone hexacetonide, derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. Preferred steroidal anti-inflammatory agents include beclomethasone, budesonide, fluticasone proprionate and mometasonefuroate. Exemplary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents include but are not limited to COX inhibitors (COX-1 or COX nonspecific inhibitors) and selective COX-2 inhibitors. Exemplary COX inhibitors include but are not limited to salicylic acid derivatives such as aspirin, sodium salicylate, choline magnesium trisalicylate, salicylate, diflunisal, sulfasalazine and olsalazine; para-aminophenol derivatives such as acetaminophen; indole and indene acetic acids such as indomethacin and sulindac; heteroaryl acetic acids such as tolmetin, dicofenac and ketorolac; arylpropionic acids such as ibuprofen, naproxen, flurbiprofen, ketoprofen, fenoprofen and oxaprozin; anthranilic acids (fenamates) such as mefenamic acid and meloxicam; enolic acids such as the oxicams (piroxicam, meloxicam); alkanones such as nabumetone; derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. Exemplary COX-2 inhibitors include but are not limited to diaryl-substituted furanones such as refecoxib; diaryl-substituted pyrazoles such as celecoxib; indole acetic acids such as etodolac and sulfonanilides such as nimesulide; derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. Exemplary anti-parasitic agents include but are not limited to atovaquone clindamycin, dapsone, iodoquinol, metronidazle, pentamidine, primaquine, pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, trimethoprim/sufamethoxazole, trimetrexate, derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. Exemplary antiviral agents include but are not limited to acyclovir, famciclovir, valacyclovir, edoxudine, ganciclovir, foscamet, cidovir (available as VISTIDE™ from Gilead Sciences, Inc.), vitrasert, formivirsen, HPMPA (9-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonomethoxypropyl)adenine), PMEA (9-(2-phosphonomethoxyethyl)adenine), HPMPG (9-(3-hydroxy-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl)guanine), PMEG (9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]guanine), HPMPC (1-(2-phosphonomethoxy-3-hydroxypropyl)-cytosine), ribavirin, EICAR (5-ethynl-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carbonxamine), pyrazofurin (3-[beta-D-ribofuranosyl]-4-hydroxypyrazole-5-carboxamine), 3-Deazaguanine, GR-92938X (1-beta-D-ribofuranosylpyrazole-3,4-dicarboxamide), LY253963 (1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl-cyanamide), RD3-0028 (1,4-dihydro-2,3-benzodithiin), CL387626 (4,4′-bis[4,6-di] [3-aminophenyl-N,N-bis(2-carbamoylethyl)-sulfonilimino]-1,3,5-triazine-2-ylamino-biphenyl-2-,2′-disulfonic acid disodium salt), BABIM (bis[5-amidino-2-benzimidazoly-1]-methane), NIH351, derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. Exemplary chemotherapeutic/antineoplastic agents include but are not limited to antitumor agents (e.g., cancer chemotherapeutic agents, biological response modifiers, vascularization inhibitors, hormone receptor blocks, and cryotherapeutic agents or other agents that destroy or inhibit neoplasia or tumorigenesis) such as alkylating agents or other agents which directly kill cancer cells by attacking their DNA (e.g., cyclophosphamide and isophosphamide), nitrosoureas or other agents which kill cancer cells by inhibiting changes necessary for cellular DNA repair (e.g., carmustine (BCNU) and lomustine (CCNU)), antimetabolites and other agents that block cancer cell growth by interfering with certain cell functions, usually DNA synthesis (e.g., 6 mercaptopurine and 5-fluorouracil (5FU)), antitumor antibiotics and other compounds that act by binding or intercalating DNA and preventing RNA synthesis (e.g., doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, mitomycin-C and bleomycin), plant (vinca) alkaloids and other anti-tumor agents derived from plants (e.g., vincristine and vinblastine), steroid hormones, hormone inhibitors, hormone receptor antagonists and other agents which affect the growth of hormone-responsive cancers (e.g., tamoxifen, herceptin, aromatase inhibitors such as aminoglutethamide and formestane, triazole inhibitors such as letrozole and anastrazole, and steroidal inhibitors such as exemastane), antiangiogenic proteins, small molecules, gene therapies or other agents that inhibit angiogenesis or vascularization of tumors (e.g., meth-1, meth-2 and thalidomide), bevacizumab (available as AVASTIN™ from Genentech), squalamine, endostatin, angiostatin, ANGIOZYME™ from Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, neovastat (available as AE-941 ™ from Aetema Zentaris), CC-5013 (available as REVIMID™ from Celgene Corp.), medi-522 (available as VITAXIN™ from MedImmune, Inc.), 2-methoxyestradiol or 2ME2 (available as PANZEM™ from Entremed, Inc.), carboxyamidotriazole (CAI), combretastatin A4 prodrug (CA4P), SU6668, SU11248, BMS-275291, COL-3, EMD 121974, IMC-1C11, IM862, TNP-470, celecoxib (available as CELEBREX™ from Pfizer Inc.), refecoxib, interferon alpha, interleukin-12 (IL-12) or any of the compounds identified in Science Vol. 289, Pages 1197-1201 (Aug. 17, 2000) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, biological response modifiers (e.g., interferon, bacillus calmette-guerin (BCG), monoclonal antibodies, interluken 2, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), etc.), PGDF receptor antagonists, herceptin, asparaginase, busulphan, carboplatin, cisplatin, carmustine, chlorambucil, cytarabine, dacarbazine, etoposide, flucarbazine, flurouracil, gemcitabine, hydroxyurea, ifosphamide, irinotecan, lomustine, melphalan, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, thioguanine, thiotepa, tomudex, topotecan, treosulfan, vinblastine, vincristine, mitoazitrone, oxaliplatin, procarbazine streptocin, taxol or paclitaxel, taxotere, analogs/congeners, derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. Exemplary decongestants include but are not limited to epinephrine, oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, tetrahydrozolidine, xylometazoline, derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. Exemplary mucolytics include but are not limited to acetylcysteine, dornase alpha, guaifenesin, derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof.

In those instances where it is desirable to remove water from tissue, e.g., to remove fluid from edematous tissue, a hyperosmolar agent may be employed in the sealant. Exemplary hyperosmolar agents include but are not limited to furosemide, sodium chloride gel and other salt preparations that draw water from tissue or substances that directly or indirectly change the osmolar content of the mucous layer. Where sustained release or delayed release of the therapeutic agent is desirable, a release agent modifier may also be included in the sealant.

The sealant desirably has a sufficiently low viscosity to enable easy delivery to the treatment site using for example power spray or other spray application, lavage, misting, mopping, wicking or dripping. The sealant need not be applied in liquid form and may for example be applied as a powder, gel, foam, sponge, film strip or other suitable form. The sealant may be applied to treatment sites in the middle or inner ear or in associated structures such as the Eustachian tubes. The applied sealant may be bioresorbable or biodegradable after a desired period of time once healing has occurred. The sealant desirably includes at least one characteristic that promotes retention of the sealant at the treatment site. This characteristic may be selected from a variety of features including but not limited to thickness, size, shape, density, viscosity, hardness, bioadhesiveness, mucoadhesiveness, manner of application or insertion, and the like. The sealant may prevent bacterial recolonization or the formation or reformation of bacterial biofilms by covering the treatment site (e.g., mucosa from which a bacterial biofilm has been removed by the solvating system) with an alternative film structure whose surface is not readily penetrable by bacteria associated with bacterial ear conditions. The sealant is biocompatible with the delicate tissues and structures of the middle or inner ear, and desirably does not contain ingredients which might potentially harm such tissues or structures or unduly compromise long-term hearing.

The solvating system and sealant may desirably be used as a part of a multi-step treatment regimen which disrupts the bacterial biofilm and discourages its return. For example, a series of steps that may be broadly classified as Cleansing/Disrupting, Killing, Protecting/Coating, Aerating, and Healing may be carried out. The Cleansing/Disrupting step may be carried out by administering the solvating system as described above. The Killing step may be carried out by applying a suitable antimicrobial agent to the treatment site. This may as described above be accomplished by including an antimicrobial agent in the solvating system, in the sealant, or in both the solvating system and sealant. As noted above, an antimicrobial agent may also be applied as a separate step between application of the solvating system and application of the sealant. An antimicrobial agent may also be applied or administered post operatively. The Protecting/Coating step may be carried out by coating at least part of the thus-treated tissue with a protective sealant layer as described above. The Aerating step may be carried out by preserving or forming a suitable opening or openings (e.g., a slit in the tympanic membrane) and leaving it or them open for a period of time sufficient to allow aeration of the treated ear region. The time period may be affected by the nature of the opening(s) and by whether or not a tympanostomy tube is installed. For example, if a slit has been formed in the tympanic membrane and a tube is not placed in the opening then the slit may remain open for a few days and heal over, thereby closing the ear space naturally. The Healing step may be carried out by allowing the cleansed, protected and sealed tissue surface to undergo a return to a normal state, e.g., through one or more healing mechanisms such as modulation of an inflammatory response, phagocytosis, mucosal remodeling, reciliation or full or partial restoration of normal hearing or balance.

A comparable series of steps may be performed in a multi-step treatment regimen which disrupts a bacterial biofilm in a sinus cavity. Further details regarding such a regimen may be found in copending application Ser. No. 11/739,480, filed even date herewith, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The invention is further illustrated in the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLE 1

As a proxy for the S. aureus and P. aeruginosa bacteria that may be implicated in bacterial biofilms in the middle ear (other bacteria that may be implicated include S. pneumonia, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis), bacterial isolates were recovered from the sinuses of patients with sinus disorders. Patients with cystic fibrosis or an underlying immunosuppressive disease (HIV infection, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or renal disease) and patients who had taken antibiotics or oral prednisone in the previous month were excluded. All patients had refractory sinusitis, that is, persistent symptoms resistant to medical therapy despite having undergone technically successful functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for refractory chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with or without nasal polyposis. The occurrence of CRS was diagnosed in accordance with the 2003 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) guidelines set out in Benninger et al., “Adult chronic rhinosinusitis: Definitions, diagnosis, epidemiology, and pathophysiology”, Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 129(3 suppl):S1-S32 (2003). The selected patients had been refractory to medical therapy for more than 12 months before sample collection, and the failure of FESS was judged not to be associated with technical factors such as obstructive synechiae, frontal sinus obstruction, or a retained uncinate process. Samples were collected consecutively until 10 specimens each of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were obtained using direct endoscopic guidance and the procedure described by Nadel et al., “Endoscopically guided cultures in chronic sinusitis”, Am J Rhinol 12:233-241 (1998). Briefly, a topical anesthetic agent was administered, the nasal ala retracted, and an endoscope used to visualize the middle meatus and sinus cavities. A thin, flexible calcium alginate swab (STARSWAB II™ Collection and Transport System, Starplex Scientific, Etobicoke, Ontario) was inserted and directed to the site with the most purulence. If no purulence was observed, the surface of the maxillary sinus was swabbed for 15 seconds. Care was taken to avoid contact with the lateral nasal wall or nasal vestibule. Samples were plated and incubated using standard procedures. Bacteria were identified using a VITEK 2™ system (Biomérieux, Durham, N.C.). Crystal violet staining to confirm the presence of biofilms was performed according to the method described by Stepanovic et al., “A modified microtiter-plate test for quantification of staphylococcal biofilm formation”, J Microbiol Methods 40:175-179 (2000). For incubation and culture, previously frozen strains were inoculated on trypticase soy agar (TSA) with 0.5% sheep blood. After 24 hours, one to four colonies per strain were cultured on TSA. Cultures were incubated at 37° C. for 24 hours to condition them to a trypticase soy broth (TSB)-TSA medium and ensure noncontamination. Colonies grown on TSA solid medium were then amplified in 5 mL of TSB medium with 0.5% glucose according to the method described by Gotz, “Staphylococcus and biofilms”, Mol Microbiol 43:1367-1378 (2002) and incubated at 37° C. for at least 24 hours.

A drip-flow reactor (DFR) was used to determine the effectiveness of various test solutions delivered to S aureus and P aeruginosa biofilms on hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated microscope slides for removing these bacterial biofilms with and without hydrodynamic force. The slides in the DFR are tipped at 10° from the horizontal, thereby modeling a low shear environment. The DFR was housed in an incubator at 37° C. under aerobic conditions. Approximately 20 minutes before bacterial inoculation, sterile medium (10% TSB for S aureus; 1% TSB for P aeruginosa) was dripped on the slides in the DFR and allowed to collect over the slides to form a conditioning layer. The slides were then inoculated with 1 mL of a culture of either S aureus or P aeruginosa. The DFR was tilted so that the slides would be horizontal for 4 hours to allow bacterial attachment to the substrate. Subsequently, the DFR was set so that the slides were once again at a 10° angle, with sterile medium dripping on the slides at a rate of 10 mL per hour. After 3 days, biofilm-removal experiments were performed. Two methods were used to treat the biofilms formed by each bacterial species. The first application method involved a static treatment in the DFR, with a solvating agent (referred to as CAZS) being dripped onto the biofilms. The CAZS solvating agent contained deionized water, 25 g/L (corresponding to 0.13 M) citric acid, 5.35 g/L (corresponding to 0.02 M) caprylyl sulfobetaine zwitterionic surfactant (CH₃(CH₂)₉N⁺(CH₃)₂CH₂CH₂CH₂SO₃ ⁻, CAS 15163-36-7) and sufficient sodium citrate (about 240 g/L) to buffer the system to pH 5.4. The second application method involved delivery of saline or delivery of CAZS outside the DFR, using a pressurized jet lavage to apply a hydrodynamic shearing force to the biofilm. For all treatments, preliminary runs were done to ensure that variations among slides were within acceptable limits. In addition, multiple plates of both bacterial species were produced to determine the within-run and run-to-run variations. A control slide was made for each DFR run. Three runs were evaluated for each treatment of each type of bacteria.

For static treatment, flow to the DFR was halted, the DFR was placed in a horizontal position, and the cover was removed. A 25 mL portion of CAZS was applied to one slide. Control slides were not treated with CAZS. After 10 minutes, the slides were rinsed with saline (25 mL). The DFR was then disconnected from the inflow tube, and each slide was removed under a laminar flow hood and placed in a sterile 50-mL tube. After another saline rinse (2 mL), the surface of the slide was scraped repeatedly, and the scrapings and saline were collected in the tube. The tube was vortexed for 10 seconds, sonicated for 2 minutes, and vortexed again for 10 seconds to disperse the bacteria into suspension. The suspensions were then serially diluted and 100 μmL aliquots applied to three plates containing TSA and incubated at 37° C. for 24 hours. Colony-forming units (CFUs) were counted manually, and the number of CFUs per square centimeter was calculated. The resulting plate counts were log (10) transformed and expressed as the mean (±SD) value derived from plate counts from two DFR runs of three slides each.

For hydrodynamic treatment, the slides were removed from the DFR and placed in a glove box. The slides were placed in a holder and sprayed for approximately 20 seconds with about 150 mL of either saline or CAZS using a device that provided pressurized jet lavage. The spraying was done with both a side-to-side and an up-and-down sweeping motion so that all areas were sprayed twice, once in each axis. The slides were then placed in sterile 50-mL tubes, rinsed, scraped, dispersed, incubated and evaluated as described above.

The mean (±SD) percent reduction from control values in the quantity of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa bacteria (viz., the number of CFUs on each plate) after each treatment was calculated and the results assessed using two-sample t tests (MINITAB™ version 14, Minitab, State College, Pa.). A P value less than 0.05 was considered to represent a significant difference from the control value. The results are shown below in Table 1, expressed as the mean (±SD) number of colony-forming units per centimeter (log) derived from three plates assessed twice:

TABLE 1 Bacterial Plate Log Counts According to Type of Treatment Treatment Staphylococcus aureus Pseudomonas aeruginosa None (Control) 8.7 ± 0.4 9.2 ± 0.2 Static CAZS delivery 6.2 ± 0.3 6.3 ± 1.3 Hydrodynamic saline 6.4 ± 0.2 6.9 ± 0.1 delivery Hydrodynamic CAZS 4.8 ± 0.3 4.0 ± 0.5 delivery

The results in Table 1 show that significant bacterial biofilm removal was obtained. Before treatment, ample biofilms formed in the DFR cultures of both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, with CFU counts for these Controls ranging from 7.8 to 9.5 log/cm². Static administration of CAZS resulted in a 2.5 log reduction (5.11×10⁸ to 1.65×10⁶; P=0.001) in the number of S. aureus CFUs and a 2.9 log reduction (1.69×10⁹ to 1.91×10⁶; P=0.002) in the number of P. aeruginosa CFUs. Mechanical disruption using hydrodynamic saline delivery alone decreased the number of S. aureus CFUs by 2.3 log units (5.11×10⁸ to 2.38×10⁶; P=0.001) and the number of P. aeruginosa CFUs by 2.4 log units (1.69×10⁹ to 7.31×10⁶; P=0.001). However, mechanical disruption using hydrodynamic CAZS decreased the S. aureus CFU count by 3.9 log units (5.11×10⁸ to 6.37×10⁴; P=0.001) and the P. aeruginosa CFU count by 5.2 log units (1.69×10⁹ to 1.04×10⁴; P=0.001).

Confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) was performed on three slides (for each treatment and bacteria species) not subjected to plate counts to allow imaging of the biofilm architecture in control and treated samples. The slides were stained for CSLM using a BACLIGHT™ Live/Dead kit (Molecular Probes, Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) containing two nucleic acid stains (SYTO 9, which detects living cells by fluorescing green, and propidium iodide, which detects dead cells by fluorescing red). After staining, the slides were examined using CSLM at a 630× magnification using a LEICA™ SP2 acoustic-optical beam splitter with a 2-photon MAI TAI™ attachment (Leica Microsystems, Bannockburn, Ill.) and fluorescence excitation and detection in both the green and red spectra. Each slide area was divided into 10 equally sized segments. A microscopic field was selected at random from each segment, and images were obtained at 1-μm intervals from the top of the biofilm to the substrate, thereby creating an image stack for each location. The CSLM analysis revealed that a thick biofilm carpeted the Control slides. Hydrodynamic treatment with saline and static treatment with CAZS decreased the amount of biofilm coverage markedly and reduced the organization of the remaining biofilm. Hydrodynamic treatment with CAZS produced a greater reduction both in biofilm coverage and in the amount of order in the biofilm community. The results corresponded generally to the plate count assessments with respect to the relative reductions in the amount of biofilm achieved with each treatment.

Of the three treatments investigated, power irrigation using CAZS and a pressurized jet lavage was the most effective in disrupting the bacterial biofilms. Power irrigation using saline had appreciable biofilm-reducing effects. However, the presence of a surfactant and citric acid in the irrigation solution significantly enhanced the reduction in CFU count in both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa biofilms. Large, statistically significant reductions occurred, with the mean decreases in bacterial plate counts being 3.9 and 5.2 log (a reduction of 10,000 to 100,000 times), respectively, for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa biofilms. A decrease of this magnitude in vitro indicates that an appropriate in vivo treatment in the middle or inner ear should effectively disrupt bacterial biofilms found there. Any remaining low level of persistent bacterial infection might be dealt with by host defenses or a topically or orally administered antimicrobial agent, and by application of a sealant as described above.

EXAMPLE 2

Experimental work conducted using S aureus and P aeruginosa cultures grown on TSA solid medium (viz., cultures made without use of HA-coated glass slides and the DFR and less likely to include a durable biofilm) indicates that a solvating system containing the surfactant but no metal ion sequestering agent may be less effective as a biofilm disrupter than a solvating system which also contains the metal ion sequestering agent. However, either solvating system may be a more effective biofilm disrupter than saline solution.

EXAMPLE 3

The CAZS solvating system employed in Example 1 was modified by replacing some of the water with gallium nitrate so that the modified system contained 25% gallium nitrate. A Control solution containing 25% gallium nitrate in deionized water was also prepared. When evaluated using the static treatment technique of Example 1, administration of the gallium nitrate Control solution resulted in a 3.4 log reduction (average of 4 runs) in the number of S. aureus CFUs and a 4.1 log reduction (average of 3 runs) in the number of P. aeruginosa CFUs. Static administration of the solution containing CAZS and gallium nitrate resulted in a 5.2 log reduction (average of 2 runs) in the number of S. aureus CFUs and a 5.5 log reduction (average of 2 runs) in the number of P. aeruginosa CFUs.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate or equivalent implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the preferred embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof. 

1. A method for treating chronic otitis media and other bacterial ear conditions, which method comprises: a) applying an aqueous solvating system comprising a metal ion sequestering agent and greater than 0.2 wt. % surfactant to a treatment site comprising a bacterial biofilm comprising an extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached or adhered to at least a portion of the middle or inner ear, b) detaching, removing or otherwise disrupting at least a part of the biofilm by solvating the extracellular polysaccharide matrix with the solvating system and then rinsing away the solvating system, and then c) applying to the treatment site a protective layer of a polymeric film-forming sealant.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the treatment site is in the middle ear.
 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the treatment site is in the inner ear.
 4. A method according to claim 1 comprising applying the solvating system by spraying, lavage, misting, mopping, wicking or dripping.
 5. A method according to claim 1 comprising applying the sealant by spraying, lavage, misting, mopping, wicking or dripping.
 6. A method according to claim 1 comprising applying the solvating system and sealant directly in the middle ear.
 7. A method according to claim 6 comprising applying the sealant as a film or conformal coating.
 8. A method according to claim 7 comprising applying the sealant without filling the middle or inner ear.
 9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant comprises a cationic surfactant.
 10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant comprises a zwitterionic surfactant.
 11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is about 0.3% to about 30% of the solvating system.
 12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is about 0.5% to about 25% of the solvating system.
 13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the metal ion sequestering agent comprises a sequestering agent for sodium, calcium or iron.
 14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the metal ion sequestering agent comprises citric acid.
 15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the metal ion sequestering agent is present at a concentration of about 0.01 to about 0.5 M.
 16. A method according to claim 1 wherein the solvating system has a pH of about 5 to about 8.5.
 17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the solvating system further comprises a buffer.
 18. A method according to claim 1 wherein the solvating system further comprises an antimicrobial agent.
 19. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sealant is viscoelastic.
 20. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sealant hardens after application.
 21. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sealant comprises a polysaccharide.
 22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the sealant comprises cellulose, chitin, chitosan, dextran, glycogen, glycosaminoglycan, gum, pectin, starch, or a derivative thereof.
 23. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sealant comprises hyaluronan.
 24. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sealant comprises carboxymethyl cellulose.
 25. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sealant comprises a lipid or polypeptide.
 26. A method according to claim 1 wherein the solvating system or sealant further comprises an antimicrobial agent.
 27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises gallium acetoacetonate, gallium bromide, gallium chloride, gallium fluoride, gallium iodide, gallium maltolate, gallium nitrate, gallium nitride, gallium percolate, gallium phosphite, gallium sulfate or mixture thereof.
 28. A method according to claim 1 further comprising applying an antimicrobial agent after application of the solvating system and before application of the sealant.
 29. A method according to claim 1 wherein the same steps performed in vitro will cause greater than a 1-log order reduction in a population of one or more of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis bacteria.
 30. A method according to claim 1 wherein the same steps performed in vitro will cause greater than a 2-log order reduction in a population of one or more of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis bacteria.
 31. A method according to claim 1 wherein the same steps performed in vitro will cause greater than a 3-log order reduction in a population of one or more of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis bacteria.
 32. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sealant further comprises an anti-fungal agent, antihistamine, steroidal or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, anti-parasitic agent, antiviral agent, chemotherapeutic/antineoplastic agent, decongestant or mucolytic.
 33. A method according to claim 1 wherein the solvating system or sealant further comprises a steroid. 